EU imposes sanctions against 3 Russian lawmakers

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the Financial Times on Aug. 31 that European capitals were preparing "pretty precise plans" for potential deployments in postwar Ukraine.

According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russian forces launched 502 Shahed-type attack and decoy drones, along with 16 Kalibr and eight Kh-101 cruise missiles overnight. Ukrainian air defenses reportedly intercepted 430 drones and 21 missiles.

"I would like to note that your warriors fought bravely and displayed heroism. We will never forget the sacrifices made by your armed forces and the families of your servicemen," Putin told Kim Jong Un during a bilateral meeting in Beijing.

Putin, Kim Jong Un, and Xi Jinping appeared together at a military parade in Beijing, prompting a reaction from Trump on Truth Social: "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America."

Russia launched a wave of drone attacks on Ukrainian cities overnight on Sept. 3, targeting regions in western and central Ukraine, officials reported. Five people have been reported injured.

"We are preparing important bilateral decisions that will strengthen the defense capabilities of our countries," Ukraine's Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

"As a result of the drone attack... the contact network was temporarily disrupted," Rostov Oblast Governor Yuri Slyusar said.

The Russian vessel attempted to land airborne troops on the Tendra Spit, a narrow island stretching some 65 kilometers (40 miles) in the northern Black Sea off Ukraine's southern coast.

"I'm very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that, and we'll be doing something to help people live," Trump said in an interview on the Scott Jennings Radio Show. "It's not a question of Ukraine. It's help people live," he added. "7,000 are dying every single week — soldiers mostly — but 7,000 people. And if I can help to stop that, I think I have an obligation to do that.

The number includes 780 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

The comments, made during Putin's meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing, represent an apparent shift from Moscow's previous refusal of any changes regarding the Ukrainian plant's oversight.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sept. 2 that he will seek to normalize relations with Moscow, as Bratislava moves to gradually increase Russian gas imports through the TurkStream pipeline.

Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to meet Emmanuel Macron ahead of a high-level summit of the so-called "Coalition of the Willing," scheduled for Sept. 4.